Chapter 16
They awoke the next morning to something of a surprise. The bed around them was surrounded in a thick, crystal structure. Harry reached out hesitantly and tapped the smooth, glassy surface. It was certainly sold, and while the wall was green, it was nearly transparent, appearing as more of a green-tinted glass, but with smooth facets everywhere.
Harry's first thought was that this was some form trap, his clothes and wand were on the floor by the bed, on the other side of the wall. Ginny was wrapped up in the blanket, while Harry had a sheet around his waist when Ron opened the door. It was then that Harry noticed the second think about the structure. Sound didn't penetrate it.
"Cover your ears Gin," he said looking at her apologetically "I need to make some noise to convince Ron I can't hear him."
Ginny grabbed pillows and pushed them on each side of her head. Harry concentrated on the anger, nursed it, fueled it, and finally projected his voice "I can't hear you, you prat!"
Ginny saw him sway, and reached for him. He fell back, looking drained. Ron looked thoughtful, and then began rooting around; he pulled up a quill, ink bottle and parchment, and wrote something.
You can't hear me, can you?
The parchment was held up by Ron. Harry shook is head exaggeratedly. More writing from Ron:
Do you know how this happened?
Again Harry shook his head no. Ron looked thoughtful, and wrote more.
I'll get Hermione.
Harry nodded. Ron grinned, jotted something down and slapped the parchment on the crystal wall.
Don't do anything I wouldn't do.
"Well, at least he seems to be taking this all in stride." Ginny snorted. "He isn't stuck in bed with…" She blushed "I – erm – I mean, I – well, I have to use the loo."
Harry groaned he had been trying not to think about that himself. A minute later a rather hastily dressed Hermione appeared looking at the wall in awe. Harry and Ginny were beginning to look a but panicked, when she drew her wand waved it at the wall and tried several spells, all of which failed to even make a minor effect on it. She paced a bit, chewed her lip a bit, and finally gathered up quill and parchment.
I need to go to the library.
Harry looked around and finally had to make the discomfort obvious to Hermione. She looked at him attempting to pantomime needing to use the loo, and finally she blushed and nodded.
A few minutes after she left, Dobby appeared inside the wall with a small metal pot. "I's is finding you a chamber pot Harry Potter and Miz Weesy!" They looked at Dobby dubiously, but they nodded slowly. "I's be back to collect in an hour."
Harry looked at Ginny and handed her the pot and turned his back. The look of relief on her face was plain. A while later after the two of them dispensed with the initial issue of the morning, Dobby returned with breakfast and removed the pot. As they lay in bed eating Harry leaned over and kissed Ginny's forehead.
"Well, it's not how I imagined spending all day in bed with you, but it'll work." She cuffed him playfully on the arm.
With the sheet wrapped about her she began examining the green crystal. "I don't think this is a trap Harry, I think one of us created it." She moved from one angle to the next, as if looking for something in the surface of the crystal.
Shortly, they heard something thumping below the bed. Harry and Ginny lifted the mattress and looked into Dobby's face. "We is making a tunnel Harry Potter. We is getting you and your Weezy out Harry Potter." With that he disappeared down the small hole.
Hermione showed up a few minutes later, books, parchment and a quill behind her ear. She set the work down and started scribbling on a parchment.
Dobby and the house elves are digging a tunnel to get you out. They should also have clothes for you two. We'll figure it all out when you are outside the crystal.
Harry looked again dubiously at the crystal dividing them from the rest of the room. Hermione scribbled another note.
The crystal is fused with the floor and ceiling. I don't know how long the air would be breathable.
Harry had in fact been thinking that very thing. The beds were spacious, but finite, and he was relieved when Dobby had opened a small tunnel allowing fresh air into the bed. Within an hour they were sitting in the common room again.
"So you woke up surrounded by the structure then?" Hermione asked for the fifth time.
"Yes, why do you keep asking that?" Ginny was getting irritated at the question.
Hermione opened a book and flipped to a marked page.
At the height of the rush of the giants, Godric Gryffindor fashioned a shield of impenetrable crystal to defend himself and his charges from their onslaught. The Crystal barrier held for a fortnight until dismissed by Godric, and then the Companions fled to rejoin their compatriots.
"Not only does it identify, appropriately mind you, the shield. It also calls the people following Godric Gryffindor 'Companions', just like us." Hermione looked at the faces staring at her. "Oh, don't you see? Harry is our leader, just like Godric Gryffindor was leader of the original Companions. He created that shell."
Harry had a nagging worry; Ginny had been in there too. When the Phoenixutum blossomed in her, she hadn't passed out. Was it possible they were following the wrong person?
"Does it say what color the crystal was Hermione?" The one in there is greenish his hand waived towards the bedrooms.
Hermione spent a few minutes leafing through pages. "Sort of, it makes reference to the 'Sapphire Shield'; I'm assuming it's the same barrier, so I'd say blue."
Harry thought a moment, and got up. "Ron and Justin come with me, the rest stay here." He hugged Ginny. "We'll be right back, I need to check on something first," he whispered in her ear.
They trotted through the halls to Gryffindor Tower. At the portrait of the Pink Lady, Harry stopped. "Are there any portraits of Godric Gryffindor?"
The pink lady thought a while and said, "I believe there is one in the Headmaster's library, though I'm not sure."
They took off at a run, Ron and Justin shrugging to each other as they followed Harry. Once in the Headmaster's office, Harry looked at the paintings. "Which one of you is Godric Gryffindor?"
The headmasters looked around and one seemed to sit up straighter. "I am."
Harry peered at the painting the colors were faded, but he could just make out the color of his eyes. They were a deep, dark blue. He let out the breath he'd been holding.
Ron gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "Harry, what's going on?"
"Gryffindors eyes are blue, so I'm guessing it was me, not Ginny that made the shield."
Ron's eyes showed the dawning understanding. They headed back to the common room, relieved and in lighter spirits.
Hermione was looking at them with barely checked ire. "His eyes were blue you prat, had you bothered to stay around I could have told you that much."
Harry stood there startled and speechless, his mouth working slowly, but no words were forming.
"Well, you know Harry," Ron stated simply shrugging, "he insists on doing everything the hard way."
Harry closed his mouth and glared at Ron. Ron stared at him impassively. "I do not always do things the hard way."
"You do so," Came Ginny's voice.
"This is a mutiny I tell you." Harry was having some difficulty suppressing the grin. In actuality he had not thought Hermione would have had the foresight to find out something as detailed as the color of Gryffindor's eyes.
He moved over next to Ginny and Hermione. They were looking over a rather well appointed man that seemed to be in his late thirties or early forties. Under the image was the text: Godric Gryffindor, first headmaster of Hogwarts, and one of the original founders of the school.
Harry flipped the text over Hogwarts, a History. Harry groaned audibly, and Hermione blushed. "Oh stop it Harry."
"Ok, so I made it, now, how do I make it go away? I'd rather not be tunneling my way out of my bed in the morning."
Hermione shrugged, "honestly Harry, I have no idea. This is all very advanced and it's so poorly documented."
"Right then, so let's try something else, what triggered it, I was certainly not angry last night, or in any danger." Ginny's face colored as she attempted to catch his eye. "Yes Ginny?"
"Erm, can I have a word Harry?"
They walked to a corner and had a whispered conversation peaking the interest of all the people in the room. Now and then they could make out a word or two, like "NO!" and "NOT IN THIS LIFETIME!" finally after several minutes; they returned both now glowing red from embarrassment. Harry pointedly refused to talk to anyone, and Ginny leaned forward and whispered softly in Hermione's ear. Hermione's eyes widened, and her hand quickly covered her mouth. "You don't suppose…"
Ginny shot her a dirty look, and Hermione's hand re-covered her mouth. "Not one word." Hermione nodded.
Cho glanced at Justin and whispered to him "We have got to find out." Justin simply nodded.
Harry regained his composure, and after clearing his throat re-addressed them all, "well, erm, yes – I believe we may have to er – test this theory out a bit…" he lurched forward, Ginny glaring at him had just smacked him on the back of his head. "Not right now!" he exclaimed "I – I meant, that…" his face burned hotly suddenly. "Never mind…" He stalked off to a chair and sat down pretending to be suddenly engrossed in a book.
"Oi! Harry, it's upside down." Susan said smirking.
Harry obligingly turned the book upside down, and went back to glaring at it. It took him a few minutes to realize he had been holding the book properly the entire time. He closed the book with a snap, dropped it on the table and buried his face in his hands. "Don't you have anything better to do than harass me?" he moaned through his hands.
"Not at the moment." Hanna had moved to the couch. "So, Harry – what did you do to cause the shell to materialize?" They all had to admit, Hanna was the last of the Companions most eligible to make Harry speechless. She had been shy and unassuming, however lately, she had become more forceful. The new powers building in each of them seemed to enhance flagging areas in each of them, in Hanna it meant more composure, and less going along with everything. It's not like she had suddenly become confrontational, rather like suddenly she was herself, comfortable with the others to the point of speaking her mind.
(An interjection here, if I may. I have read the manuscript several times in the last few months, as we heal both physical and mental wounds. The physical scars are much less – deep than the emotional ones. But there they are, visible for all to see. That aside, while it was great fun teasing Ginny and Harry about this secret they had, we all had a fairly good idea, and certainly they weren't the first to try this experiment, nor were they only ones doing it. – Susan)
"Yeah, well anyway Harry," Ginny said, desperate to turn the course of the conversation, "we have other tasks that need our attention."
Harry looked at the list on the table. They had been marking off who had been recovered, and who's bodies were returned to their parents as well as the ones still listed as missing. He sighed and looked at the list. It still seemed enormous.
"Ron, did we find anything out from the documents we, erm, borrowed from the Aurors?" Harry hadn't seen Ron palm the documents, but when they returned Ron had seemed unsurprised to find several official Ministry documents in the mix of his papers.
"Yes, and no." Ron looked at him sheepishly.
"I'm sorry Ron, but could you repeat that?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah, well – It's like this Harry, the documents certainly are there, and there is a bit more information than we had, but honestly it was simply confirmation of what we had already guessed. The Aurors know less then we do." He glared at Hermione for a second before continuing, "Basically, they know something is going on, and I'm betting they have a damn good idea who's behind it. However, there is nothing new in the reports I, er, borrowed to indicate that they have any more information than we do."
"So they weren't part of this whole thing then?" Harry asked, extracting a fresh piece of parchment from a small stack.
"No, they either aren't part of it, or are frighteningly clever." Ron watched Harry root about for a quill and ink.
"Thanks Ron, Hermione have you figured anything out from that trap? I don't want them perfecting that one on us." He had found a bottle half-full and a not completely dull quill.
"Not yet Harry, it's an odd spell, and seems to have been triggered by our presence. So the two outside the door weren't the ones to cast it, or even trigger it." She watched as Harry began a letter, and then looked away. Privacy was paramount between them, and letter writing was sacred.
"So you think perhaps using the voice might have set it off?" He was writing smoothly, making sure of his words before he wrote them.
Hermione's eyebrows shot up, "yes, of course!" She hurried off to a stack of books, and paged through them.
"Justin and Cho, could you run up to the owlry for me, and bring back five owls please?" He had set one piece of parchment aside and was working on the second one.
"Ron, I need a best guess from you. Do you think we could break into the Ministry offices and have a look-see?" Harry was still engrossed in his letter writing as he discussed this.
"Well – if we had some inside help, yes I believe we could." He moved over to the planning table and started drafting a letter to his dad.
"Good, and tell your mum and dad we'll be staying a few days. All of us." Harry finished up that letter and started his third. "Everyone else pack for a week."
The remaining people moved to their rooms and started packing rucksacks for a week on the move. Ginny was selecting potions and balms for her healer's satchel, and had clothing lain out on their bed for herself and Harry. He came into the room holding four envelopes, each with a different name on them.
Harry looked wistfully at the bed. "I guess I'll probably be staying in Ron's room."
"I expect so too Harry. But it's only for a while, and I am sure we can find some time alone." She winked at him and smiled wickedly.
He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her deeply. They silently packed their belongings and hefting the rucksacks they headed out the door.
In the common room everyone was ready except Cho and Justin. Harry tied the four letters to the first four owls and sent them away; Ron used the fifth owl to send the letter to his parents.
Their gear was piled up in neat rows by the door when Dobby showed up "Harry Potter, there is being an Auror to see you sir!"
"I was sure this was coming." Harry looked at Dobby. "We'll need another place setting for today only Dobby, and then we'll be departing for a week, understand?"
"Yes Harry Potter. Dobby understands." The house elf vanished with a pop.
Harry moved to the door, and caught the attention of a troll. "I have an Auror coming from the entrance. He's expected." The troll nodded and moved back to his post.
Harry marveled over the trolls they really were nothing at all like the mountain troll he remembered from his first year. Not dumb at all, but wickedly sly, and when employed as guards were fearless and faithful. Dumbledore had chosen them well.
He returned to the table to see an eleventh chair and place setting already there. The food was just appearing as well, and Harry took a long drink of pumpkin juice, and had just taken a bite of mashed potatoes when the knock came.
He opened the door to see the troll standing between him and Auror McGivins. "It's ok, let him in."
McGivins entered the common room and at once his eyes were in motion absorbing everything he could in a quick survey. Harry directed him to the table. "Are you hungry Auror McGivins?"
Fact is he was, and he remembered the cooking from Hogwarts with fondness and sat at the proffered place, opposite Harry.
"You don't seem at all phased that I'm here." He scooped out some potatoes and stuffing to go with his chicken.
"I'm not, and frankly I had expected you sooner." Ron stated between bites of roast beef. "I figured you'd be here the same day personally." Ron reached into his pocket withdrew a sickle and tossed it to Harry.
McGivin's eyes widened. "You bet it'd take me a day?"
Harry nodded and drank deeply from his goblet. "Yes, I did. However, I was half hoping Ron would be right. Now, please make your point as we have something to do."
"Like what Harry?" McGivins asked nodding at the assembled gear.
"Class field trip." Harry shot back, "and none of your business where Auror." The finality behind the statement was obvious.
"You are not agents of the Ministry, Harry. You can't do as you please."
"Right on one, dead wrong on the other. We are not agents of the Ministry of Magic we are agents of the Ministry of Mystery." Harry emphasized the points with uncharacteristic hardness to his voice. "Regardless, we can and we will do exactly as we please."
"By whose authority?" McGivins asked, his voice cold.
"By order of Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts and the Leader of the Order of the Phoenix." Harry had been told by Dumbledore that that was his authority if he was ever asked.
McGivins hesitated "Dumbledore is still prisoner."
Harry glared at him. "I have his trust. I operate as Dumbledore would have wanted. When he and the rest of the students are freed, then you can ask him if I was operating under his orders."
"This is not over Potter." McGivins finished his meal, and stood.
"No McGivins, it's not. Though I had honestly hoped we'd be working together." A hint of sadness and regret tinged his words.
McGivins paused at the door. "Me too Harry. I had truly hoped to work with you on this."
"It's not too late McGivins," Harry noted, "There is still time to join us."
For a moment the Auror stood there with his hand on the doorknob. "I can't Harry. I am responsible to Minister Fudge."
Harry stood a moment and considered McGivins. "What if I told you Fudge is, and has been dead since just after the abductions?"
McGivins turned on Harry, his eyes wide. "You mean?"
"Fudge was here the morning after the abductions, and died in the Great Hall. He was sent to deliver a message, and believe me, it was delivered." Harry's voice had that edge Ginny recognized when he needed to just do and not feel. "He's on ice in one of the classrooms on this floor." Harry walked to the door, the rest of the Companions followed.
They walked to the classroom where they had sealed the body of Fudge. Hermione opened the door; there on a small pedestal that Harry had transfigured lay the still frozen body of Cornelius Fudge. McGivins stared at Fudge and took out a small mirror, and passed it over the face of Fudge. He then looked into the mirror and spoke some words under his breath.
"Alright Harry, I'm convinced. I have some things that need attending to, when is your, ah, 'class trip' going to be over?"
"Two weeks." Harry lied, but his face showed no hint of the falsehood.
"Right then, two weeks." McGivins turned and left heading for the entrance hall.
Harry looked at Susan and Lisa. "Get my cloak, and follow him until he is off the grounds. We leave when you return."
They headed for the Common Room, grabbed the invisibility cloak and silently fled to the entrance, catching up to McGivins as he was just leaving. They shadowed him all the way to the gates, where he stepped out and Disapparated. They removed the cloak, and ran back to the castle.
Once inside they gave Harry the details of the rather uneventful trip. They had all learned that even the most trivial of things sometimes can have catastrophic repercussions. Harry merely nodded, and when they were ready he unfolded the portkey map sent to him by Arthur Weasley. He taped it and said "There's no place like home." Mentally he snickered; Mr. Weasley was something else alright. The familiar tug and they were standing in the Weasley living room.
The kitchen door opened and Mrs. Weasley looked at the small troop in her living room, smiled broadly and had hugs for everyone. "Come in there's plenty of room at the kitchen table." Sandwiches were piled on three plates and plenty of juice for all.
They chatted a bit, and spent the next few hours just enjoying being someplace other than Hogwarts.
All too soon Arthur Weasley returned home. With him was a man Harry had never seen. "It's good to see all of you!" He hugged and kissed Ginny, and hugged Ron. Then he turned to Harry, and for the first time ever Harry felt the embrace of a father. "Welcome home son." Mr. Weasley whispered in his ear. "We are all so proud of you."
Harry fought back the tears, but the smile he had on his face didn't fade for quite some time.
Arthur introduced the man with him as Deedolus Diggums. The name struck Harry, and suddenly the face focused, and he remembered him from the first time he had been in the Leaky Cauldron with Hagrid. 'Was it really a lifetime ago like it felt, or only five years, it just didn't seem like that much time for all these changes.'
Harry wouldn't have noticed it was there. The people hurrying by didn't glance at it. Their eyes slid from the big book shop on one side to the record shop on the other as if they couldn't see the Leaky Cauldron at all. In fact, Harry had the most peculiar feeling that only he and Hagrid could see it. Before he could mention this, Hagrid had steered him inside.
For a famous place, it was very dark and shabby. A few old women were sitting in a corner, drinking tiny glasses of sherry. One of them was smoking a long pipe. A little man in a top hat was talking to the old bartender, who was quite bald and looked like a toothless walnut. The low buzz of chatter stopped when they walked in. Everyone seemed to know Hagrid; they waved and smiled at him, and the bartender reached for a glass, saying, "The usual, Hagrid?"
"Can't, Tom, I'm on Hogwarts business," said Hagrid, clapping his great hand on Harry's shoulder and making Harry's knees buckle.
"Good Lord," said the bartender, peering at Harry, "is this -- can this be --?"
The Leaky Cauldron had suddenly gone completely still and silent. "Bless my soul," whispered the old bartender, "Harry Potter... what an honor."
He hurried out from behind the bar, rushed toward Harry and seized his hand, tears in his eyes.
"Welcome back, Mr. Potter, welcome back."
Harry didn't know what to say. Everyone was looking at him. The old woman with the pipe was puffing on it without realizing it had gone out.
Hagrid was beaming.
Then there was a great scraping of chairs and the next moment, Harry found himself shaking hands with everyone in the Leaky Cauldron.
"Doris Crockford, Mr. Potter, can't believe I'm meeting you at last."
"So proud, Mr. Potter, I'm just so proud."
"Always wanted to shake your hand -- I'm all of a flutter."
"Delighted, Mr. Potter, just can't tell you, Diggle's the name, Dedalus Diggle."
"I've seen you before!" said Harry, as Dedalus Diggle's top hat fell off in his excitement. "You bowed to me once in a shop."
"He remembers!" cried Dedalus Diggle, looking around at everyone. "Did you hear that? He remembers me!" Harry shook hands again and again -- Doris Crockford kept coming back for more.
A pale young man made his way forward, very nervously. One of his eyes was twitching.
"Professor Quirrell!" said Hagrid. "Harry, Professor Quirrell will be one of your teachers at Hogwarts."
"P-P-Potter," stammered Professor Quirrell, grasping Harry's hand, "c-can't t-tell you how p- pleased I am to meet you."
"What sort of magic do you teach, Professor Quirrell?"
"D-Defense Against the D-D-Dark Arts," muttered Professor Quirrell, as though he'd rather not think about it. "N-not that you n-need it, eh, P-P-Potter?" He laughed nervously. "You'll be g-getting all your equipment, I suppose? I've g-got to p-pick up a new b-book on vampires, m-myself." He looked terrified at the very thought.
But the others wouldn't let Professor Quirrell keep Harry to himself. It took almost ten minutes to get away from them all. At last, Hagrid managed to make himself heard over the babble.
"Must get on -- lots ter buy. Come on, Harry."
"Pleasure to meet you Mr. Diggums." Harry extended his hand.
"Pleasure is all mine Harry." His smile was broad, warm and inviting. "We meet again."
Harry smiled back "for the third time, I believe."
Diggums chuckled. "You do remember me!"
"How could I forget the man who shook my hand in Muggle Surrey with a purple cloak?" Harry remembered the event with bittersweet memories.
They sat talking until the clock was pointing at 'why bother going to sleep now?' Harry stood and stretched out kinks in his back and headed upstairs. He was passing Ginny's room when the door opened suddenly, and a hand grabbed his shoulder, dragging him into the room.
Ginny smiled at him mischievously and kissed him. "Good night Harry." She held him tight for a moment and then went to release him, realizing that he hadn't let go yet. She smiled, and sank into his warm embrace. They were still holding each other when a slightly disheveled Hermione interrupted them. Harry kissed her one last time and finished the climb to Ron's room.
He collapsed in his customary bed, Ron was still awake. "Harry, it's so good to be home, but, to be honest mate, I'd give almost anything not to be sleeping in the same room as you." He then picked his head up and grinned at Harry. "No offense you understand, it's just…"
"Yeah, I know…" Harry rolled over and closed his eyes. It was going to be a long night.
Morning came and with the rising of the sun ten weary young men and women descended on the Weasley kitchen. Molly was positively in her element Harry thought as he watched the older woman go through the tasks to prepare a hearty breakfast for them all.
Last night while waiting for sleep to overcome him, Harry had come up with a training regime for the week that was still taxing, but not on the same level as their usual routine. It started with three laps around the Weasley property, which they were on the first half of the first lap now.
"Oi, Harry, do we really have to do three laps?" Ron was groaning.
"Yes Ron, three laps." Harry grunted out, wondering if he was doing this only as a way to burn off his frustration from last night. He knew for a fact that Susan and Lisa had not gone to sleep right away last night. Arthur had added a couple new rooms at the top of the stairs at the same level as Ron's, and Lisa had been overly vocal last night.
They completed the run, all ten exhausted, Molly had placed a large pot of hot chocolate and several large mugs on the table outside. After a break, Harry considered the next phase of their training. He opened the book Sirius had been keeping track of their progress in, and he glanced over the notes.
Harry scanned over them; apparently they were supposed to learn the unforgivable curses. He had some knowledge of them from Barty Crouch Jr. who had been imitating Mad Eye Moody last year.
"Right then," he said, when the last person had declared themselves present, "I've had a letter from Professor Lupin about this class. Seems you've had a pretty thorough grounding in tackling Dark creatures - you've covered boggarts, Red Caps, hinkypunks, grindylows, Kappas, and werewolves, is that right?"
There was a general murmur of assent.
"But you're behind - very behind - on dealing with curses," said Moody. "So I'm here to bring you up to scratch on what wizards can do to each other. I've got one year to teach you how to deal with Dark -"
"What, aren't you staying?" Ron blurted out.
Moody's magical eye spun around to stare at Ron; Ron looked extremely apprehensive, but after a moment Moody smiled - the first time Harry had seen him do so. The effect was to make his heavily scarred face look more twisted and contorted than ever, but it was nevertheless good to know that he ever did anything as friendly as smile. Ron looked deeply relieved.
"You'll be Arthur Weasley's son, eh?" Moody said. "Your father got me out of a very tight corner a few days ago. .. . Yeah, I'm staying just the one year. Special favor to Dumbledore. . . . One year, and then back to my quiet retirement."
He gave a harsh laugh, and then clapped his gnarled hands together.
"So - straight into it. Curses. They come in many strengths and forms. Now, according to the Ministry of Magic, I'm supposed to teach you countercurses and leave it at that. I'm not supposed to show you what illegal Dark curses look like until you're in the sixth year. You're not supposed to be old enough to deal with it till then. But Professor Dumbledore's got a higher opinion of your nerves, he reckons you can cope, and I say, the sooner you know what you're up against, the better. How are you supposed to defend yourself against something you've never seen? A wizard who's about to put an illegal curse on you isn't going to tell you what he's about to do. He's not going to do it nice and polite to your face. You need to be prepared. You need to be alert and watchful. You need to put that away, Miss Brown, when I'm talking."
Lavender jumped and blushed. She had been showing Parvati her completed horoscope under the desk. Apparently Moody's magical eye could see through solid wood, as well as out of the back of his head
.
"So. . . do any of you know which curses are most heavily punished by wizardling law?"
"Hermione, did you bring the books on the Unforgivable Curses?" he looked over at her lying down with her head in Ron's lap.
"Yea Harry." She made to get up.
Harry held up a hand. "Later on, this afternoon; right now though I have something else in mind."
Almost as one the others groaned in protest.
"Come on, you haven't even heard what it is…" he protested.
"Well you bloody well tried to kill us just now with that running." Ron complained again. "Besides, it's cold out here."
"Language Ron!" Hermione snapped at him.
Harry stifled a snicker. "Right then, here's the deal. We are going to head into the woods, and do a little practice with search and detaining."
Hermione's head lifted and a wicked smile played over her lips a second. "Who are we teaming with?" She already knew the answer.
"Normal teams." Harry said, he appeared all business but Ginny caught a glint in his eye, and a grin spread over her face.
They got up and headed for the woods at a jog and dove into the cover, each couple finding a little peace and quiet for a little practice detaining each other. As Harry lay in the glow of their passion, he couldn't think of a better way to spend the afternoon.
All too soon, they made their way out of the woods and spent the rest of the afternoon pouring over the information Diggums had provided them last night, and the maps Mr. Weasley had brought them. Ron and Harry had the basis of a plan when Molly came outside into the area of warmth, clutching the Daily Prophet in her hands. "Harry Potter! WHAT were you thinking?"
She dropped the paper on the table. In bold words covering the front of the paper was a picture of the golden phoenix over the Malfoy estate.
Order of the Phoenix Requests a Meeting with Tom Riddle
Tom, I know you are out there, and you know I'm after you. I would like a meeting between us to settle this once and for all. You can bring any of your followers you want. All I care is that you are there. Don't be a coward Tom, I'm waiting for you.
I await your owl.
Harry James Potter
It had cost Harry 200 galleons for the entire front page. Money well spent he considered. Harry watched Molly Weasley head back inside.
Harry looked at the paper a second, "I asked them to use a different picture." He returned to the map Ron was pointing to Surrey. "Ron, I don't like that possibility, why would Voldemort want an outpost in Muggle England?"
He looked up to see nine faces staring at him in shock. "What? This changes nothing; I just hate trying to ferret him out when I might be able to bring him to us."
"You don't really think he'll come?" Lisa asked, her hand finding Suzan's.
"When were you going to tell the rest of us Harry?" Cho asked irked.
Harry smiled inwardly. Not only was the plan going to work to bring out the rest of their powers, but there was a small chance that it would actually bring Voldemort out into a real fight. One they would win.
"When I was ready." Harry braced himself. The cacophony of anger-induced voices was numbing. He focused his anger, and pushed it to the forefront like a shield to protect him. The noise washed over him sounding like little more than mosquitoes.
But they had to keep angry. He drew his last straw card, and with an internal grimace threw it into the fray. "You will damn well do exactly what I say when I damn well say it, and stop questioning my every move. I lead this group, it's not a democracy." True or otherwise, he was sure it would work.
It did. In spades. The ground literally shook from the power. Harry focused, and drew the power into him, suddenly the noise stopped, and they were all looking at him. They were surrounded by a torrent of flame. The ground beneath their feet was cracked and broken.
"There, now that wasn't so bad. Was it?" Harry smiled at them all, and the smile faded slightly in mild shock. He had known there would be changes, but he had not expected this.
Molly dropped the tray of sandwiches as she saw the small group of young men and women before her she could see the magic flowing around them. She had known that this would happen eventually, but had not expected it so soon. They were looking confused. She understood, and gathered them all to the table. She looked at Harry expectantly, and he stood getting ready to speak.
"What has happened is we have er," he glanced at a small book, "quickened a second time. It means we have, bound ourselves completely to one another. We can feed and draw from each other's power.
"I challenged Tom Riddle to meet us on our own footing, and have been writing to him for the past week. I'm frankly sick of waiting for his clues, and I want this over with quickly. For that I'm willing to make a few risky moves."
Ron considered this for a moment. "You are drawing him out to put him on the same footing as we are, not yet at full potential. Good choice Harry."
The rest seemed to agree with Harry and Ron's assessment of the situation.
"You said we share power?" Hermione asked, though almost more as a challenge than a query.
"Yes, and no, I can't force someone to give me anything, but if you are willing I can draw from you, er, like a muggle battery is used to store electricity." He looked around and hen sighed. "You don't know what a muggle battery or electricity is do you?" heads shook for most of them. "Well, think of it like each of you is a glass of water, and I drink all of mine, and ask each of you to give me a little bit of yours."
Cho blinked. "So we have to consciously give each other access to the power?"
Harry shrugged. "I'm not real sure I understand that part myself." He looked at Molly Weasley.
Molly smiled at them, but it was not her normal, warm smile, it was full of irony. "Well, in a way yes. You need to still trust one another, and as long as that trust is there, you have almost unlimited resources at your disposal."
Harry made note of the photographs in the Weasleys album, there were an exception number of them taken when the Weasleys had been twenty, or so he had thought, the reality struck him then. "How long did it last for you and Arthur?" He pointed at the pictures of the twenty year old looking Weasleys.
"We were out of school before Hagrid was in school Harry. For us it lasted thirty five years, and then Elishia Creevey was killed, and we all felt it." The tears were falling down her face in remembered pain. "They used the Cruacious curse until Elishia couldn't stand the pain anymore, and finally collapsed. The emotional feedback almost killed her lover Joseph Vonn."
"Elishia Creevey? I thought Colin and Dennis came from a Muggle family?" Harry looked confused.
"Oh, no, the Creevey's have had several family members who were witches and wizards." Molly looked like this line of thought was unpleasant.
Harry thought it a good idea to change the subject, "When will Mr. Weasley be home? There are a few parts of this plan I'd really like to discuss with him and Mr. Diggums." The real reason he wanted to talk to Deedolus and Arthur was he thought he knew what target the death eaters were looking for in Surrey. They were searching for him, the same way they were searching for Voldemort and the prisoners.
He looked at the map for a bit and then at Ron "I think it's time I finally gave my public what they want." Ron heard the disdain in his friend's voice over his fame.
"Right then, Harry. How public do you want?" Ron again looked at the map.
"Very high-profile, and far from Surrey." Harry couldn't help it; he had to do something to get the Death Eaters away from the real target. As much as he hated the Dursleys, he didn't wish this on anyone. He grabbed a piece of parchment and then looked again at Molly. "Mrs. Weasley, what's the name of a very high profile real estate agent?"
Mrs. Weasley smiled, and gave him name.
Harry wrote a hasty note, and handed the letter to Ginny. "Use Hedwig, and send this off please." When they touched a current flowed through them, both their eyes flew open wide, and the note drifted to the ground unnoticed. It was several seconds before either moved, and the flow of energy was not dissipated until they broke contact.
Ron glanced over at Harry and Ginny, "You two ok?"
"Yeah" Harry muttered "just fine..."
Ron leaned over to whisper in Hermione's ear, when their cheeks touched the flow of power was as poignant as it had been between Harry and Ginny. Hermione let out a little "Eep!" at the contact, but did not move. Mrs. Weasley noticed both events and smiled Ah yes, the first time they share power, how, delicious it had been. She blushed at the stray thought, that had been so many years ago, and they had been so much like these children. No, not children, not any more. Like these young men and women. Arthur had been strong and wise beyond his years, and she had been bookish, and full of practical advice. So much like Ron and Hermione, so little like Harry and Ginny. Harry was certainly the spitting image of his father, while she was pregnant with Ginny, they had been asked by Dumbledore to look over some Death Eater encampment Elishia had died that night, protecting Arthur and Molly. Arthur had been the practical one saying he and Elishia should go alone, but Molly had insisted neither of them would know what to look for. She had been teasing, and Elishia had teased right back claiming it was because Molly was afraid Arthur and her were going to be off on some tryst. The three had laughed loud and long, and Elishia had again offered to take another member, Vonn, on the scout. Molly had been firm, saying that it's not like they were going to fight or anything, and the power was strong then, they felt immortal.
She broke her reverie, and threw a pinch of powder in the fireplace. "Arthur Weasley." Within moments Arthur's head was in the fire. "Arthur dear, Harry and his friends need a hand with some Muggle junk they picked up from Surrey if you could be available tonight, in person. Oh, and is Deedolus coming for dinner?"
They knew conversations were being listened to, and had set up some key phrases. Arthur glanced at his wife in the fireplace. So Harry and his Companions were going to do something about Surrey then? Excellent; I'll find Deedolus, and we'll get home as quickly as we can. "Ah, no Molly, I can't help out until I get home, and yes Deedolus is bringing wine for dinner tonight."
Molly had loved the cloak and dagger phrases when they were fighting Voldemort and this just brought back memories. Her eyes registered Arthur as he was today, but in her heart and mind, he was twenty, brilliant with strategy, and like a racehorse full of nervous energy.
"Molly, is there anything else?" Arthur looked concerned.
"Oh, sorry Arthur, no, nothing, I was just thinking of something is all." Molly blushed and stood up. It was time for them to stand aside, and let the new Companions do their job. "I expect you'll be home on time tonight then?" Arthur smiled and nodded.